Bankers Get Y2k Request

Don't Do Atm Upkeep On Dec. 31, State Asks

CROMWELL — The state's banking commissioner has asked local banks not to schedule maintenance on automated teller machines on Dec. 31st.

Why? So customers won't mistake the shutdown for a year 2000 problem and spark a panic-driven run on cash.

It's one preparation that came to light Monday during a statewide conference at the Radisson Hotel on year 2000 readiness.

With 87 days to go, officials on Monday said 95 percent of the state's critical computer programs were ready, and that the remaining 5 percent can handle the date change, but still need to be tested or enhanced.

The problem stems from a programming shortcut using two digits for dates. Shutdowns or miscalculations could result if a program misreads 00 as 1900 instead of 2000.

Banking Commissioner John Burke said he issued the advisory about ATMs because some machines were shut down for maintenance on Sept. 9, and some people thought there was a date-related problem. That's because 9/9/99 can mean ``the end'' in some computer programs.

It wouldn't have been such a big deal, except that someone called a radio station, and the misinformation spread. Burke is hoping to avoid a repeat on Jan. 1.

``Let's look back at the last three years of serious preparations and hope we can laugh about it,'' he said.

Peter Sullivan, director of the state's Year 2000 Program Office, said 12 programs in nine state agencies make up the last 5 percent of Y2K work that needs to be done.

The state has set Nov. 15 as a completion date for fixing and testing systems, and the rest of the year will be devoted to contingency planning and making sure the agencies can quickly report any Y2K incidents during the New Year's weekend.

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., vice chairman of the Senate's special Y2K committee, said the 95 percent completion rate puts Connecticut near the top of the 50 states in readiness.

He also said he and Y2K committee Chairman Robert Bennett, R-Utah, are optimistic that Congress will pass a measure earmarking $100 million for grants and loans to cities hit by emergency Y2K funding needs after Jan. 1.

The federal government will have spent about $8 billion over five years for Y2K work; the state will have spent $95 million, with another $15 million for contingency planning and emergency spending. Some of the $15 million will go unused if there are no serious Y2K problems.

State agencies also plan to:

Continue monitoring the progress made by regulated utilities in Connecticut, including power, water, gas and cable companies.

Include officials from the Connecticut Hospital Association at the command center at the Department of Public Health on New Year's Eve, so there is better information sharing between hospitals and the state.

Monitor the prices and supplies of commodities, such as heating oil and medications, to be sure there is no price gouging or hoarding at the end of the year.